DISPLAY CASE
Women of Action
Campaigning for a New Maternity Ward, 1925
This photograph is of an entry in the Berkshire Federation of Women’s Institutes minutes from 1925. It refers to the proposal to ask the Royal Berkshire Hospital for a new maternity ward in order to reduce the mortality rate amongst new mothers.
Berkshire Federation of Women's Institutes Health and General Education Minutes
Reference: D/EX2007/8/1
Proposed functions of the WI, 1948
In these Berkshire Federation Health and General Education Committee minutes from 1948, we see how the WI planned to deal with issues affecting the community. The proposals refer to organising “exhibitions, classes and conferences on all matters relating to education and public questions”. Also to the “co-operation with the Local Education Authorities, the Health Authorities and other bodies dealing with further education, health and welfare”.
It shows that such functions were an integral part of the WI movement.
Pinkney's Green WI Scrapbook - Image 1
Reference: D/EX1925/47/4/1
A Local Perspective
This scrapbook was made by the Pinkneys Green WI (Maidenhead) to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 1974. There are many activities shown through photographs and newspaper cuttings, but it also lists a number of things that they did for their local community, such as providing fruits and sweets for the patients at St Mark’s Hospital.
See Pinkney’s Green WI Scrapbook – Image 2 for corresponding ribbon.
Pinkney's Green WI Scrapbook - Image 2
Reference: D/EX1925/47/4/1
This ribbon was made as part of a scrapbook was made to celebrate their 25th anniversary of Pinkneys Green WI (Maidenhead) in 1974.
See Pinkney’s Green WI Scrapbook – Image 1 for more details on activities.
Pinkney's Green WI Scrapbook - Image 3
Reference: D/EX1925/47/4/1
This hymn is ‘Jerusalem’, the words of which are by William Blake; the music by Hubert Parry and is contained in the Pinkney’s Green Scrapbook of 1974. The hymn was apparently designed to express beliefs, ideas and sentiments about God and the city of Jerusalem. The verses refer to a ‘New Jerusalem’ being placed in the land of England and it is often sung patriotically at sporting events when England plays.
The hymn was adopted by the WI and often sung at the start of every meeting. It supports the movement’s idea of striving to make life and the place people live in better. In the scrapbook, the Pinkneys Green WI indicate that the reason it was sung was to remind them of the aims of the movement, that is “the betterment of conditions in the community”.